Chapter 2: If Shadows Could Talk
There was a slight click as the heavy wooden door shut and the lock was set in place. The mer yawned as he stretched his arms out to his side. It had been a long day for him, as managing his large plantation was no small feat. He casually made his way over to his extravagant bed and began to unbutton the elaborate tunic that hung across his shoulders. The blue and green tunic was tossed atop a nearby dresser along with the equally stunning pants that he wore. The mer then reached over to a small table next to his bed, grabbing a leather bound book that rested on the dark surface. He then flipped to the page where he had finished reading the night before and once again began to scroll over the hand written text with his sleepy eyes.
His heartbeat echoed in his ears and his stomach churned with anxiety as he observed his prey. The adrenaline coursed through his veins as he silently muttered an incantation, his form melting into that of the wall he stood next to. He watched as his target moved about the room carrying out his nightly routine. He silently forced himself to move from the corner and towards the other end of the room. Constantly telling himself that this was not the first time he had done this, it was not the first time he had taken a life. However his hands still shook and his breath was still heavy. Little did he know that tonight would alter his entire life.
He moved forward once again, edging ever closer to his prey like a lion stalking a gazelle in the grassy plains of Elsweyr. Then suddenly he felt an unfamiliar urge, an urge that told him to speak out before he plunged his blade into the throat of the mer before him. Then almost as surprising as the urge itself he listened to it.
"He dies in the end." The raspy voice echoed throughout the room, coming from no clear direction. The mer quickly looked up from his book. Startled by the voice he frantically looked around the room for the source.
"Who's there, show yourself," he commanded as he stood from the bed. Rayden's heart had now slowed its beat and was in perfect rhythm with his breathing; he was focused, concentrated, and his mind was clear.
"A shadow," replied Rayden, followed by a slight chuckle. He observed the other mer as he cautiously walked around the room, inching himself towards the door.
"If shadows could talk then I might believe you. Now show yourself!" he commanded once again.
Another louder laugh echoed throughout the room, "You will be wishing I was truly a shadow."
The words seemed to flow from his mouth without thought. He could not control himself; he acted on nothing but instinct. With one quick and deft motion he lunged forward plunging his steel dagger into the mer's torso. His victim yelped with pain and surprise as the dagger pushed its way into his body. Rayden's form then materialized in front of the man, his hand still gripping the dagger that was lodged in the mer's side. The eye's of his target widened as he noticed the figure appear before him.
"Help! Assassin!" he screamed out as he gasped for air. Rayden drew closer.
"Shhh, be silent. They cannot help you now." spoke Rayden as calmly as if he were quieting a crying child.
He turned his head towards the door as he heard muffled footsteps. Then there was a loud bang on the heavy wooden door.
"Is something wrong Thanden!" yelled a muffled voiced from the other side. Rayden quickly turned his head back towards the mer in front of him as his target tried to yell once more.
"There's a-" The mer was cut short as Rayden pulled the dagger from the mer's side and with a sweeping motion brought the edge of the now warm steel into contact with the mans throat. The nearby wall was painted a glowing crimson as the mer's blood flickered in the candle light.
"Thanden! Thanden!" cried the large and robust voice from the other side of the door. Rayden quickly turned his attention towards it as it burst open, pieces of the iron lock flew across the room as it was shattered. A very large nord then rushed into the room, warhammer in hand. He took one look at his bloodied master and then turned towards Rayden, letting out a deafening cry as he ran forward holding the silver mass of steel above his head ready to crush the life from his master's killer. Rayden reacted quickly, throwing the dagger in his hand at the Nord with as much force as he could muster. The blade struck the large man in the chest, and he dropped to his knee growling in pain as blood began trickling into his lung.
Rayden wasted no time in taking advantage of his strike as he quickly rushed forward pulling the wakazashi from his side and slamming it into the Nord's neck. There was a loud thud followed by a crack, and then gurgling as the large man's blood seeped into his trachea and down into his lungs. Rayden pulled the blade from the man's neck, and then the knife from his chest. His breathing was heavy and his head throbbed once again as the adrenaline rushed throughout his body. He walked over to the lone window and lifted the latch.